Four years later, Texas still not drug testing unemployment benefit applicants (video)

More than four years after Texas lawmakers approved a law allowing for the drug testing of certain out-of-work Texans applying for unemployment, supporters blame the Obama administration for keeping the program from getting started.

The Texas Tribune

Posted
Tuesday, November 21, 2017 5:00 pm

By ALANA ROCHA, The Texas Tribune

In 2013, the Texas Legislature passed a law allowing for the drug testing of certain out-of-work Texans applying for unemployment. Republicans say politics is the reason they haven't been able to start the testing. They are waiting on the Trump administration to launch new federal guidelines on who the state is allowed to test.

Under Senate Bill 21, those who test positive would be ineligible to receive benefits for at least a month, until they passed another drug test. An applicant could also enroll in a treatment program to remain eligible for benefits within a week of receiving notice of a failed drug test.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at https://www.texastribune.org/2017/11/21/nearly-4-years-later-texas-still-doesnt-test-unemployment-benefits-des/.

The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.